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Munzi wa luna neunani matata amañatañata. Nelupanganga mubamba womutelele wakuka mezi kwa pompi iliñwi.
My village had many problems.
We made a long line to fetch water from one tap.
Nelulibelelanga lico ze fiwa ki babañwi.
We waited for food donated by others.
Nelukiyanga minyako ya mandu aluna kakuitahanela kabaka la masholi.
We locked our houses early because of thieves.
Banana babañata nebatuhezi sikolo.
Many children dropped out of school.
Basizani babanyinyani nebabeleka musebezi wa mwa malapa mwa minzi yemiñwi.
Young girls worked as maids in other villages.
Bashimani babanyinyani neba yembana mwahae mi babañwi nebabelekanga mwa masimu abatu.
Young boys roamed around the village while others worked on people’s farms.
Moya haneufukanga, mapepa asinatuso nalulanga kwa likota ni malapa.
When the wind blew, waste paper hung on trees and fences.
Batu neba sehwa ki mabotela a pwacehile anayumbilwe kusina tokomelo.
People were cut by broken glass that was thrown carelessly.
Cwale zazi leliñwi, pompi yaoma mi lipupe zaluna nelili mukungulu.
Then one day, the tap dried up and our containers were empty.
Bondate baya lapa ni lapa kukupa batu kuli batahe kwa mukopano.
My father walked from house to house asking people to attend a village meeting.
Batu bakopana mwa tasi a kota yetuna mi bateeleza.
People gathered under a big tree and listened.
Bondate bayema mi bali, “luswanela kubeleka hamoho kufeza matata aluna.”
My father stood up and said, “We need to work together to solve our problems.”
Juma wa lilimo ze lobapeli, yanainzi fa sisindimwa ahuwa, “nakona kutusa kwa kukenisa.”
Eight-year-old Juma, sitting on a tree trunk shouted, “I can help with cleaning up.”
Musali alimuñwi ali, “basali bakona kukopana nina kwa kucala lico.”
One woman said, “The women can join me to grow food.”
Muuna yomuñwi ayema mi ali, “baana bakayepa sisima.”
Another man stood up and said, “The men will dig a well.”
Lwahuwa ka linzwi li liliñwi kaufela luli; “luswanela kucinca bupilo bwaluna.” Kuzwa zazi leo, nelubelekanga hamoho kufeza matata aluna.
We all shouted with one voice, “We must change our lives.”
From that day we worked together to solve our problems.
Written by: Ursula Nafula
Illustrated by: Vusi Malindi
Translated by: Christabel Songiso, Akombelwa Muyangana
Read by: Chrispin Musweu, Margaret Wamuwi Sililo
